THE vocal highlight of this year’s Llandeilo Fawr Festival of Music will be a visit from one of the world’s leading operatic sopranos.

Opera lovers in Wales will know Nuccia Focile from her acclaimed portrayal of the tragic heroine, Violetta, in Welsh National Opera’s sell-out production of Verdi’s La Traviata ,a few years back, but opera lovers all over the world have been thrilled by the beauty and technical perfection of the Sicilian-born diva’s lovely voice.

Llandeilo Fawr has gained a justifiable reputation for the star quality of its vocal artists and Nuccia Focile will be the latest in a long line of world-class singers to have visited the Festival.

The list of leading roles which she has played is awesome and she has appeared at most of the world’s leading opera houses, including the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, Metropolitan Opera in New York, Paris Opera, La Scala, Milan,and the Deutsche Oper in Berlin.

Her many opera recordings have enjoyed immense critical acclaim and she has worked with some of the most admired conductors, including Sir Chatles Mackerras, Sir Colin Davies, Seji Osawa, James Levine and Antonio Pappano.

She will be accompanied by a pianist who has received plaudits wherever he has performed.

Garry Matthewman ranks among the very finest of British piano accompanists, having appeared at Wigmore Hall in London, Carnegie Hall in New York and the Musikverein in Vienna as well as in Paris, Prague, Washington DC, Toronto and Sydney.

He has also accompanied at the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition and enjoys the distinction of having his disc of Schubert’s Winterreise, with baritone Matthew Rose, feature as Recording of the Month in Gramophone Magazine.

See Nuccia Focile and Garry Matthewman on Friday, July 18 at 7pm.

Llandeilo Fawr Festival of Music will run from July 12 to 20.

For more information go to llandeilomusicfestival.org.uk